Variables Overview, contd.

• • must be declared before use
  • • tells the computer what type of value it should remember with a name
    • declaration syntax:
    • • type name; // declaration is a command, so remember the semi
      • int my_variable; // the “int” sets the type as integer
    • if you don't declare a variable, the computer will not recognize it
  • can have any name that the computer does not know already
  • • ex. int my_variable; // ok!
    • ex. int int; // bad! the text “int” is reserved for declaration
  • variable name must not contain symbols or numbers